What to read next: Rebecca Yarros’ ‘Fourth Wing,’ Audrey Shulman’s ‘Sitting in Bars with Cake,’ Fredrik Backman’s ‘The Winners,’ and more

Lauren Groff's 'The Vaster Wilds,' Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing,’ William Kent Krueger's 'The River We Remember.'

So many good books, so little time. How does one narrow the list of literary suitors? Let us help.

These are the books the Amazon Editors recommend that you read next.

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Fourth Wing

I think Fourth Wing is the best sci-fi/fantasy novel of this year and other readers seem to agree (72K reviews with a 4.8 star rating). This one has everything: dragons, romance, battle, bravery, and a world so perfectly rendered that it’s hard to pull yourself out of it—nor would you want to. If you haven’t yet read Yarros’ best seller, now’s the time because the sequel, Iron Flame is coming out on November 7, and I, for one, can’t wait.

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William Kent Krueger is one of those authors who’s never let me down; I love everything he’s ever written, from the Cork O’Connor series to This Tender Land (if you have yet to enjoy this gem, then I highly recommend adding to your TBR list—treat yourself). His writing is emotionally astute, keenly observed, and never fails to bring forth a pang on my part: of recognition, solidarity, and sometimes, sadness. His latest captures not the immediate aftermath of war, but the lingering trauma for those who served, whether abroad—or here at home. The murder of a prominent businessman in a small town in 1958 Minnesota sees suspicion cast on a Native WWII veteran—whose Japanese wife makes him an even bigger target for racism, derision, and worse. The spare beauty of Krueger’s prose makes for a striking counterpoint to the ugliness in this quietly intelligent and moving novel. Don’t miss this one.

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Sitting in Bars with Cake has been buzzy since it premiered on Prime Video on Sept. 8, starring Yara Shahidi and Odessa A'zion. The film is based on a 2015 book about two best friends in their 20s who are figuring out their lives—and who decide on an unusual plan to pick up dates: by baking cakes and bringing slices to bars. The book features 35 beautiful recipes, but readers are more enamored with the accompanying stories about each cake. “I wanted to be friends with the writer,” says one customer review. “The book inspires you to want to at least be as much like her as you can—sweet, smart, and real, but not a pushover. Each little story about one of her encounters in bars with cake feels like a great phone call with a friend.” A treat—to read and watch!

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Lauren Groff is one of the most celebrated literary writers working today. We named Fates and Furies one of the Best Books of 2018, Florida a Best Book of the Month, and her latest, The Vaster Wilds, is a stunning—if not bone-chilling—piece of literature. It’s a haunting tale of a young woman who has fled her abusers only to discover more evil and danger in the vaster wilds of the woods, America, and amongst men. You’ll feel her cold and hunger creep through your body and despite how bleak everything feels, it’s impossible to stop turning the pages. There’s something so solitary and singular about the voice—as if it’s written from another time and place. While this book may not be the most uplifting, it’s surely one that will get everyone talking.

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One of the casualties of modern times is our waning attention spans. Getting lost in a novel, even though it’s such an exquisite pleasure, is something many of us now struggle with, which is why I was daunted by the prospect of picking up the 688 page conclusion to Fredrik Backman’s Beartown trilogy, available in paperback starting this week. I mean, soon the CliffsNotes version will be streamable anyway, right? But The Winners is one of those books that will expand your attention span, and your empathy. For those of you who have not read Beartown or Us Against You, fear not. The Winners can be read as a standalone. Nor do you need to be a hockey fan, although it continues the story of the bitter rivalry between two hockey-obsessed towns. But this is merely a backdrop for what Backman does best: mine the emotional complexities of parenthood, marriage, friendships, and the sucker punches in life that can lay us flat, or make us more resilient. With The Winners, Fredrik Backman has added another winner to his beloved oeuvre.